RBS (One Account) Solicitor Panel Example Support Desk Enquires from members of the public
I am getting a mortgage offer from RBS (One Account). my intention is to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the RBS (One Account) Conveyancing panel exclude conveyancers regulated by the CLC
RBS (One Account)’s approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders associated to the CML or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.
I am buying a new build flat and my lawyer is telling me that she has to disclose incentives from the seller as her firm is on the RBS (One Account) conveyancing panel. The Estate Agents are hassling me to sign contracts and I would rather not delay deal. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the RBS (One Account) panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the RBS (One Account) approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on RBS (One Account)). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I am searching for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be sure that all the practices that are identified on your site are on the RBS (One Account) conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices listed on our site have assured us via an online form that they are on the RBS (One Account) panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the RBS (One Account) panel. To date we have not been informed by either a mortgage company or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the RBS (One Account) conveyancing panel is not accurate.
Please explain the implications if my lawyer’s firm is removed from the RBS (One Account) Conveyancing panel before the moving date as agreed at exchange of contracts?
The first thing to point out is that, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit for a fee.
Can you point me to a directory of RBS (One Account) panel solicitors on the CML Handbook Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Can I register a complaint to RBS (One Account) about the lawyers being on the RBS (One Account) conveyancing panel?
Complaining to RBS (One Account) about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
My offer on house has been accepted, the seller does however have a dependent purchase. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? At what point should I appy for the mortgage with RBS (One Account)?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the RBS (One Account) conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with RBS (One Account) and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.